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Sufficient water is key to growing camellias. Camellias can dry out easily, even if they look fine, so if summer rains aren’t consistent, you’ll need to supply supplemental water from spring to fall. Watering basins or drip irrigation are ideal solutions. In dry climates, and when the plants aren’t in flower, overhead watering done early in the day will wash dust and pests off the leaves. To help retain moisture, add 2 to 4 inches of mulch around the plants.
Camellias don’t need a lot of fertilizer, so feed with a weak solution of fish emulsion when new leaves appear in spring and then at six-week intervals during the growing season. Use a low-nitrogen fertilizer once a month in November, December, and January. Look for a fertilizer formulated for camellias for the best results.
Many problems with camellias are the result of poor drainage, excess salts, or poor location. Drainage problems can be solved by amending the soil before planting or planting in raised beds. Excessive salts in the soil can be leached out by deep, slow soakings done twice during the summer growing season. If camellias in poor locations cannot be moved, shelter them from winds and sun.
Camellia petal blight starts with a brown spot on a petal and spreads, covering the entire flower. To prevent this, remove the fallen flowers from beneath the plant. If the problem is serious, remove all mulch from around the plant and replace it with fresh mulch. If only the edges of the petals are brown, sun- or windburn is usually the cause and the condition will quickly correct itself once the conditions are corrected.
Other problems may include bud drop, which may be normal for the plant, but it can also result from over- or under-watering. Check your watering schedule if the bud drop is severe. Dieback can cause new growth to die, followed by cankers forming on the branches. This is most common in wet weather, especially in the South. Cankers can also be a problem in California. Cut out the diseased branches and dispose of them. Then spray with a fungicide during the period of spring leaf drop.
Viruses may also attack camellias, resulting in yellowish leaves or variegated leaves and flowers. It is unsightly but doesn’t harm the plant. Because it can be difficult to diagnose the exact cause of the problem, the best approach is good gardening practices, including sufficient water, good drainage, mulching, feeding, and pest control.
